tv instead of tomes | 15 tv series to watch if you’re in a book slump

Hey there, friends! So, if you don’t know I’ve been in a years long reading slump which basically started around 2020. Horrible, right? I think it’s partly due to my college coursework ramping up as I’ve progressed, as well as my chronic fatigue and chronic pain seeming to get progressively worse. I’ve still managed to read, just not as much as I used to, which is a shame. Naturally, though, I’ve had to fill my time with some other things, one of which is catching up on TV series! Fortunately for me, I have alot of amazing series I’ve started and/or been catching up with! So if you too are in a gnarly reading slump (or not), here are 15 of my favorite TV series that I recommend filling some of your time with!

Before anything, the most important thing to say: Free Palestine!!! Since the Nakba, The Israeli government has been committing genocide against the Palestinian people. This HAS BEEN a decades long thing, but now in the age of social media, more and more Westerners are being made aware of the truth of this situation. This is genocide. Now is not the time to sit idle and ignorant. The people of Palestine are begging us to educate ourselves, spread information, take to the streets in protest, and call our government representatives, in addition to donating to medical and relief organizations if possible. The following are some resources where you can do just that, and I am begging you to please do so:

• Anti-Racism Daily: Stop The Genocide in Gaza
• Save Palestine Carrd
• Arab.org: Click to help Palestine
• Medical Aid for Palestinians
• Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
• @sbeih.jpg (Subhi)
• Refuser Solidarity Network

FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREE ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

teen dramas

the summer i turned pretty

An adaptation of bestselling author Jenny Han’s book series of the same name, The Summer I Turned Pretty is about Belly, a teenage girl blossoming into herself as she and her family spend the summer at their good family friend’s beach house. Of course, the family friend has two teenage sons who have known Belly and her family forever and who Belly is romantically torn between. It’s angsty, it’s cute, it’s a teenage drama and it’s straight up addictive! And there’s plenty of other dramatic and heartwarming moments outside of Belly’s romances too! The show does such a great job of evoking the feeling of those magical teenage summers, the kind where you feel like just three months could change your entire life.

xo, kitty

What’s this? Another Jenny Han Universe series? Well, yes, because I am a certified Jenny Han Stan™! I loved Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I Loved Before book series, as well as the series’ film adaptation, so it’s probably no surprise I also am a big fan of the spinoff series, XO, Kitty. The series stars Kitty, Lara Jean’s lovable and mischievous younger sister who’s “the matchmaker of the family.” In XO, Kitty Kitty sets out to have her own dramatic and romantic adventures while attending the Korean high school that was her mother’s alma mater. We get to watch as she makes new friends, has fun escapades, and gets involved in a romance or two. It’s a super adorable show that definitely lives up to the hype and is as heartwarming as is to be expected from a Jenny Han property.

heartstopper

Okay, now we’re solidly out of the JHU (Jenny Han Universe), but still in the realm of YA book adaptations. Hearstopper is a Netflix adaptation of Alice Oseman’s beloved webcomic turned graphic novel series of the same name. At its core, it’s the story of Nick and Charlie, two teen boys who are falling in love. But I feel like that sounds way more basic than it actually is? Because at the same time, there are storylines about Nick figuring out his sexuality and the friends of Nick and Charlie and all of their interactions. The show is insanely heartwarming and adorable in sum! It really captures the sweetness of teenage love and of being a teenager in general.

📺 Trigger Warning: Depictions of homophobia

never have i ever

Alright, friends, we’re out of the world of adaptations (for now) and I’m finally gonna talk about an original series: Never Have I Ever. This show is an incredibly endearing Netflix teen dramedy produced by Mindy Kahling that I highly recommend. It’s all about Devi, an Indian American teen girl dealing with her father’s recent passing on top of all the regular angst of being a teenager including crushes, friend drama, and academic rivalries. In turns hilarious, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, Never Have I Ever is so easy to fall in love with! This is actually one of the only series that’s ever managed to squeeze literal tears out of my eyes, and you can take that as a high recommendation from me.

📺 Trigger Warning: Loss of a loved one, grief/depression

fantasy

shadow and bone

Aaaaand we’re back in the realm of book-to-screen adaptations! Now, y’all know that fantasy is my all-time favorite genre, so it’s probably no shocker I’m a fan of Shadow and Bone, especially given I enjoy the original source material of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books. If you’re a fan of YA fantasy and you haven’t watched this show…what are you doing??? Shadow and Bone combines the plots of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology, both of which are set in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. In this fantasy world, there are a class of magic wielders called “grisha,” several of whom the series revolves around. One storyline follows a young woman, Alina Starkov, who is thrust into the world of the grisha and the elite class when it is discovered that she is a rare and mystical type of grisha called the “sun summoner,” who the grisha believe will be their savior. The second storyline follows The Crows, who are a gang of thieves and criminals who set out to complete “an impossible heist.” The two storylines do eventually converge, but to find out how you’ll just have to watch it!

📺 Trigger Warning: Violence and gore

the wheel of time

The Wheel of Time is an adaptation of the beloved series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson…which I haven’t read, lol! So I obviously can’t judge this show as an adaptation, but in and of itself just as a show, I love it! At its most basic, it’s about a group of new adults who are on a journey to figure out which one of them is the chosen one and to defeat an ancient evil. The show is full of adventure and intrigue, with a hint of romance and it all comes together so perfectly! Part of what I love about this series is the large cast and all of the converging storylines—the character and plot work are done so well, and they don’t come at the expense of the worldbuilding! Plus, the music nerd in me loves the score! Everything about this show is just *chef’s kiss* and I highly recommend checking it out!

📺 Trigger Warning: Violence and gore, non-explicit sex

the witcher

I don’t think anyone hasn’t at least heard of The Witcher, but oh well, just in case… This show is an adaptation of a video game series which itself is an adaptation of a book series. It’s primarily about Geralt of Rivia (a monsterous man who himself hunts monsters), Yennefer of Vengeberg (a powerful mage), and Cirilla of Cintra (a princess of a fallen kingdom) and how their journeys intersect. Of course, there’s a looming evil they must defeat and, again, there’s lots of adventure, intrigue, and romance. This is another show that invests really well and really equally into the plot, characters, and world, so there’s something to enjoy for every kind of fantasy fan.

📺 Trigger Warning: Violence and gore, infertility, death, loss of a loved one, suicide, sex

chilling adventures of sabrina

This is another adaptation, but I’m not sure many people realize it is? Regardless, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was actually adapted from the horror run of Archie Comics’ Sabrina The Teenage Witch. The show is a comedic teen fantasy with some horror-lite elements, which is great for me considering I’m a total scaredy cat! It follows the adventures Sabrina Spellman, a secret teen witch who lives with her two witchy aunts and her warlock cousin Ambrose. The show is very camp and fun and surprisingly endearing? I love watching to see how Sabrina navigates both the mortal and magical worlds, as well as winding her way through typical teenager issues. If you’re looking for something to watch that’s just pure fun, definitely give Chilling Adventures of Sabrina a try!

📺 Trigger Warning: Violence and gore, horror elements, sex

science fiction

fringe

Fringe is an older cult classic from the early and mid 2000s, but it’s still worth a watch because it remains an outstanding sci fi show! In the show, we follow an FBI team of misfits dedicated to investigating…strange…scientific events, known as “fringe events.” The team comprises of Olivia Dunham (a goodhearted FBI agent), Peter Bishop (a criminal), Walter Bishop (Peter’s father, who also happens to be a brilliant, yet mad, scientist), and Astrid (a fellow FBI agent). Together, the “Fringe Team” uncovers the mysteries of the universe, whose answers are in turn clues slowly leading to a more strange and twisted truth than the team could ever imagine. Fringe is a wild and strange show, all while maintaining an eerie air of believability (the showrunners actually regularly consulted with scientists to make sure the basis of their fiction was actual fact) and it’s definitely worth checking out if you enjoy the weirder end of the sci fi spectrum.

📺 Trigger Warning: Loss of a loved one, violence and gore, sex

sense8

Sense8 is a more cerebral and cinematic sci fi show than most and I love it for that reason! The show is about eight individuals of diverse lives from around the world who wake up one morning to find themselves linked psychically. We follow how their lives unfold and connect following this occurrence, and, of course, there’s a big, bad, mysterious agency hunting them down at the same time. The series is a lot about the themes of appreciating diversity while also connecting as humanity at large, and it’s put together so spectacularly. The show was ultimately cut short due to budget issues under Netflix, but Netflix did allow the show to film a two hour series finale to wrap the story up. If you’re a fan of a gentler, yet slightly philosophical take on science fiction, then this is the show for you!

📺 Trigger Warning: Substance abuse, depictions of homophobia, depictions of transphobia, violence and gore, sex

wandavision

When I tell you, this series gave me a serious case of Feelings!!! Not only is WandaVision incredibly well made and entertaining, but it’s also extremely moving! I’m not a major fan of the MCU, as I feel like they focus on having snappy plots over giving characters more depth, so I was shocked to find that I loved this show, which was a much more balanced mixture of plot-driven and character-driven narrative! WandaVision is a mashup of sci fi drama and sitcom, following Wanda Maximoff and her family in the format of old-school sitcoms from across the decades, but little do viewers know that something far more sinister may be at play. It’s a series that is really fun, but also incredibly touching in the way it handles darker, more personal topics such as loss of a loved one and grief. WandaVision is absolutely worth the watch if you’re looking for a fun yet thoughtful series to binge!

📺 Trigger Warning: Loss of a loved one, grief/depression

the 100

The 100 is another oldy but still a goody! Funnily enough, this series started as a standard YA science fiction drama, but over the seasons it morphed into a much more gritty, dark, and philosophical show and (for the most part) it was perfection! The 100 takes place in the distant future where humanity is believed to have abandoned Earth and live on a space station. When 100 juvenile delinquents are sent back down to the earth as a “test group,” they discover a wild and wonderful world where they must forge their own way societally. However, things take a turn when the delinquents discover that they may not be as alone as they once believed. The series jumps off from that point, investigating questions like “how do humans form functional societies from nothing,” “what does it mean to be a member of a society,” and “how much freedom is too much freedom,” among many other deep philosophical questions. Admittedly, the series can be quite dark and even sad at times, but it’s an interesting watch if you want to stretch those philosophical mind muscles all while getting sci fi storylines with a hint of teen angst thrown in the mix for kicks.

📺 Trigger Warning: Loss of a loved one, substance abuse and addiction, “bury your gays” trope, depression/grief, violence and gore, non-explicit sex

misc.

only murders in the building (mystery/dramedy)

If you’re into cozy-ish mysteries with a slight comedic edge, then Only Murders in the Building is the show for you! This mystery series has everything you could ask from a mystery series—intrigue, drama, a bit of action, a pinch of comedy, and the kind of chaotic friend group we’re all deeply familiar with because we’ve been in an equally as chaotic friend group at some point in our life…or, wait—is that just a me thing?? Idk, hahaha, but regardless, Only Murders in the Building brings it all together to create a perfect show! It’s all about three New York City apartment building neighbors who team up to create their own true crime podcast investigating the murders that take place in their building. The show is cozy and endearing, dark and mysterious, and hilarious and heartwarming all wrapped into one and it’s definitely worth watching!!

📺 Trigger Warning: Death, murder, violence and gore, loss of a loved one, brief depictions of depression

daisy jones & the six (historical drama)

It should be no secret that I enjoy the historical fiction novels I’ve read from Taylor Jenkins Reid, which includes a large chunk of Daisy Jones & The Six, so is it really a surprise that I also love what I’ve seen of Amazon Prime’s miniseries adaptation of that book? This adaptation of Reid’s beloved novel follows the meteoric rise and subsequent implosion of the fictional band The Six and their lead singer, Daisy Jones. Set in the 1970s and exploring issues of addiction, fame, family, and friendship, Daisy Jones & The Six is a fascinating and at times heartbreaking portrait of celebrity.

📺 Trigger Warning: Substance abuse, sex

cunk on earth (mockumentary)

I’ll admit it: it’s extremely rare that I find comedies I enjoy. It’s just that a lot of them don’t cater to my type of humor. So I was astounded when I discovered Cunk on Earth, a mockumentary miniseries that made me literally laugh out loud on multiple occasions. The show follows mockumentarian Philomena Cunk as she “explains” her version of humanity’s history on Earth with the guidance of some very confused and befuddled professionals. Irreverantly funny, nothing is too sacred to not be touched on by this hilarious mockumentary, including religion, race, gender, and more. If you’re in the mood for something outrageously funny, Cunk on Earth is the miniseries mockumentary for you!

spill the beans, friends!

• What are some of your favorite comfort shows?
• Do you have any recommendations for TV series to watchduring a reading slump?